The big chill: Frost possible across northern Ohio this weekend

The dreaded F-word is in the weekend forecast for northern Ohio.

The big chill has arrived after a stormy Wednesday that brought damaging winds and even possible tornadoes across the region.

The National Weather Service says the string of unseasonably warm temperatures will give way to daily highs in the more typical 50s this weekend.

With overnight lows in the 30s on Saturday and Sunday, the weather service says there is a possibility of frost across the region.

“Frost could harm sensitive outdoor vegetation,” the weather service says.

When in the last frost in northern Ohio?

The unseasonably warm weather in northern Ohio had many ready to break out the shorts and start thinking about planting. Experts say it is probably a bit too early to begin planting seeds.

Weather folks say the better chance of frost occurs when temperatures dip to 36 degrees or below, which is not uncommon in Ohio in April.

The National Weather Service says the earliest last frost in Greater Akron was on April 9 in 1896.

The latest last frost on record for the region was on June 11 in 1972.

The average last frost for Akron and Canton is May 10.

When is safe to plant a garden in Akron and Canton?

The Farmers’ Almanac says there’s a weather lore that says “If it thunders in February, it will frost in April.”

Patience might be the best advice when it comes to spring planting given northern Ohio’s topsy-turvy weather.

The almanac that’s been offering up sage advice since 1818 says even a light frost can kill most tender plants.

The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences suggests waiting until after May 15 before planting typical garden plants like tomatoes, peppers and squash.